Community Pharmacy England has launched its fifth annual Pharmacy Pressures Survey, and we are keen to hear from all pharmacy owners and staff.

The survey is crucial for monitoring the health of the sector. Its findings provide clear evidence of the realities facing community pharmacy. We know that being asked for feedback every year can feel repetitive, but the enormous response we receive is invaluable: it captures what is needed to continue pushing for vital changes, using the latest evidence to strengthen our case and support the sector.

The survey allows us to quantify and measure the intolerable pressures facing community pharmacy, including financial constraints, medicine supply issues, staffing pressures, the impact on patients and much more. The results are used to raise awareness in national media and Parliament, highlighting the ongoing pressures and fragility in the sector and ensuring Government and NHS decision-makers understand the challenges pharmacies face.

As we move further into 2026, with critical CPCF negotiations expected to begin soon, securing immediate investment and easing pressures on community pharmacies remains our number one priority. Taking part in the Pressures Survey helps support that work.

Responding to the survey

As previously, the Pharmacy Pressures Survey consists of two surveys, with many questions kept similar to last year’s for comparison purposes. The surveys are as short as possible, taking around 10-15 minutes to complete. They will remain open until 23:59 on 16th March 2026.

The two separate surveys are:

This survey covers the pressures being experienced by businesses, focusing on the overall running of the pharmacy, including financial and staffing pressures. Please note that only one representative from each pharmacy business should complete this survey – please check this is the case before doing so. [Click here to view/download a copy of the questions.]

This survey covers the day-to-day pressures being experienced by pharmacy teams, including supply chain issues, patient interactions/experience, and staff morale. It can be answered by anyone working in a community pharmacy. [Click here to view/download a copy of the questions.]

If you are an independent pharmacy owner or any pharmacy owner involved in the day-to-day operations of a pharmacy, you are welcome to complete both surveys. Alternatively, you may complete the owners’ survey and invite your team members to complete the team survey.

We greatly appreciate your response, especially during this busy period. The results directly support our work pressing for more support and sustained investment in community pharmacy.

Janet Morrison, Community Pharmacy England Chief Executive, said:

“Community pharmacy has not had an easy start to 2026. Many pharmacies have entered the year in real economic peril, worse off than a year ago due to inflation, rising staff costs, tax changes, and operational pressures. These effects have been compounded by continuing clawback on margin and reduced Drug tariff prices creating volatility in medicine supply that profoundly affects patients.  A sector that has endured a decade of real-terms cuts cannot simply recover overnight as costs and workloads continue to rise and uncertainty prevails.

This year, we are focused on moving community pharmacy from crisis to recovery – from constant pressure to rebuilding and stability. The data you provide through this Survey helps to make that possible: the results will be used to influence policy, secure national media coverage, and support our discussions with Ministers, Government and the NHS. The findings will be referenced in Parliament, cited in national policy reports, and used to demonstrate the scale of financial and operational pressures facing the sector. They help show not only what is going horribly wrong, but what urgently needs to change.

We know this is another ask in a busy time, but this is not a box-ticking exercise: we genuinely need your input and every response is valuable, because every response strengthens the case we make on your behalf and helps us push harder for the support and investment community pharmacy so urgently needs.”

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